Enneagram Self-Reflection: What insights have you gained about how your Ennea-type operates in your life? Having this insight, will you do anything differently?

What insights have you gained about how your Ennea-type operates in your life?  Having this insight, will you do anything differently?

I have gained a lot of insights about how my Ennea-type (seven) operates in my life after studying the Enneagram.  Firstly, as Palmer (1995) proposes, Sevens are likely to be occupied with a lot of ideas or thoughts, and they tend to focus on future plans.  To tell you the truth, I think that I’m always busy in my mind, so I sometimes can’t focus on the issues at hand.  Now, I understand that I have to concentrate on challenges facing me by virtue of the wisdom of the Enneagram.  Especially, as for my spiritual practice, the wisdom of the Enneagram is so helpful.  As mentioned about my zen meditation practice on the above question, I could not stand sitting for only a few minutes when I was at the beginning of practicing the zen meditation.  That was because a dozen thoughts crowded my mind.  A lot of thoughts disturbed my inner peace, so I gave up practicing the meditation soon then I used to tackle other things.  “If the mind becomes fascinated with the delights of outer life, then spiritual work deteriorates to pleasant planning and gluttony for life experience” (Palmer, 1995, p. 175).  That was the trap which I fell into very much.  However, fortunately, since I recognized the fact, I have restored tranquility, serenity, and peace of mind in my life by continuing zen meditation every day even if the meditation time is short.

Secondly, the wisdom of the Enneagram provided me with the opportunity to find my shadow pattern and to practice a shadow work.  Wilber (2007) explains that shadow work is one of the most important practices in order to develop ourselves.  In my view, the Enneagram is compatible with shadow work.  When I notice that the basic fear, basic desire, superego message, and wake-up call for type seven appear, that’s a good chance to practice a shadow work for me.  For instance, Sevens don’t want others to control the circumstance, but if I feel uncomfortable with the situation that others control me, I’ll be able to find my unique shadow pattern.  Then, I’ll transform my shadow into the power to develop my personal growth.  That is the one of the useful insights in the Enneagram for me.

Thirdly, the Enneagram showed me the nine levels of each type.  The concept was insightful for me.  The first reason is that I can recognize at which levels my center of gravity is by using this concept.  By noticing my current states of levels, I can understand whether I am at healthy levels or not.  If I fall into an unhealthy level, and I can notice that, I may be able to shift the level into an average or healthy level.  The second reason is related to “Integral Theory” which Ken Wilber proposed.  Now, I study it in Integral Psychology program at John F. Kennedy University, but the concept of nine levels of types is similar to the idea of “States of Consciousness” (Wilber, 2006, p. 71).  In a word, states of consciousness indicate the temporary, unsteady, and changeable states of human consciousness.  Like states of consciousness, nine levels of types move up and down in a single day (Riso & Hudson, 1999).  The concept of nine levels of types enhanced my understanding of Integral Theory, too.

Lastly, the path of integration and dis-integration about type seven gave me the hint to transform me.  Regarding the dis-integration of type seven, I could understand the cause for Sevens to go to type one when Sevens are under stressful conditions.  In other words, if I attempt to educate others like average Ones, I’ll be able to notice that I’ll go in the wrong direction, say, I’ll fall into dis-integration.  On the other hand, the integration for Sevens is going to type five.  If Sevens are able to cultivate a calm mind and concentrate on the tasks at hand, they will demonstrate their powerful potentials.  In that sense, the concept of integration and dis-integration suggests the possibility of my personal growth.